The Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research (HPCR) is an interdisciplinary applied research program based at the Harvard School of Public Health in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The program provides technical assistance and information support for international organizations engaged in humanitarian action and conflict transformation. Fields of research include international law, international relations, political science, sociology, history and public health. The Program was established in August 2000 as a collaborative effort of the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General, and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. With the governments of Switzerland and Sweden serving as its core donors,, the Program has joined international efforts to provide a strategic framework for humanitarian action through original research and policy tools, training, and advisory services. HPCR is actively engaged in the design and testing of professional development tools and methods geared toward building the capacity of professionals engaged in humanitarian assistance and protection. Building on a community-of-practice approach, the Program aims to support the expansion and deepening of professional relationships in humanitarian action across agencies and regions as a means to foster professional dialogue and critical norms. Essential to this approach is the development of information sharing and networking tools in consultation with professional and agency stakeholders. Situated in one of the world's most dynamic academic and policy environments, HPCR applies its unique access and resources to generate innovative and dynamic products. While the Program values fluidity and an entrepreneurial spirit, success is assessed in terms of measurable impact.